Children's Home run by Oracle Care Limited in Central Bedfordshire

Interim inspection report children’s home: SC421531 1 SC421531 Registered provider: Oracle Care Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care and accommodation for up to three children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. All children can access the linked school provision. A private company owns and operates this setting.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Three requirements were raised at the full inspection. The provider has failed to meet two of these, and they are repeated. A further five requirements and one recommendation have been raised at this inspection.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff regularly update the children‟s placement plans. However, staff do not routinely evidence that the children contribute to the development of the plans. Nor do the children routinely sign the plans when they have discussed them during key-working sessions This means that the children may not understand the plans that are in place for them, or the work that is being undertaken by the staff.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Three children have moved from the home since the last inspection. One child Interim inspection report children’s home: SC421531 2 progressed well educationally and in their independence skills, and was able to return home. One child‟s placement ended in an unplanned way due to increasing behaviours of violence, bullying and criminal damage. The child‟s presenting behaviours made it unsafe for the other child to remain in the home with him. There was a lack of evidence to demonstrate that the staff had spoken to the child who had been bullying the other child, regarding his behaviour, or to the victim to ensure that the child felt safe, and was confident that the staff had dealt with the issue. As such, the children feel unsafe when targeted by other children.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At times, the staff have required the support of the police to manage the children‟s behaviour. This practice shows that the staff do not have the necessary skills to manage children‟s behaviours and keep them safe. A management investigation into the incidents has identified good support for staff, and strategies they can use to work effectively with the children now living at the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been two complaints since the last inspection. The management investigated a child‟s complaint regarding a member of staff. However, there is no record of the child‟s complaint, or of whether they were informed of the outcome. The management failed to deal with an external complaint within the required timescale, or evidence that the complainant was happy with the outcome. The children who complain do not know if their complaint has been taken seriously, or dealt with to their satisfaction.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Internal monitoring is not robust. Not all paperwork is signed and commented on by the children, to ensure that they are fully involved in their day-to-day care, and to support the manager in looking at trends, patterns and progression.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children are not always given the opportunity to be debriefed following a physical intervention, to talk through the incident or be given the opportunity to sign and comment on the hold. As a result of this shortfall, children are not supported to understand the reason for the hold, or given the opportunity to look at how they can manage their behaviours differently in the future.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been incidents of children going missing since the last inspection. While the staff respond positively when the children return home, there is a lack of evidence to show that the children are spoken to after every incident of missing, or that they have received a return home interview with an independent person. Failing to seek the children‟s views and make relevant records makes it difficult to look at trends, and push and pull factors. When children do start to go missing on a regular basis, the staff are unable to identify the reasons and thus safeguard the children.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff are up to date with their mandatory training, and all staff working in the home have the national vocational level 3 qualification. However, the staff have not received regular supervision. Without regular supervision, the staff are not supported in working with the children, or enhancing their own personal development.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager resigned from the home on 31 December 2017. A new manager has been appointed and began working in the home on 2 January 2018. She is in the Interim inspection report children’s home: SC421531 3 process of being registered with Ofsted. She has 16 years‟ experience of working in children‟s homes, including 11 years as a manager, and has the relevant qualifications to manage the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The new manager has a clear vision to drive the home forward, and receives support from an experienced staff team. In the short space of time working at the home, she has identified areas for improvement required in the home. These include a restructuring of the monitoring system, which at present is ineffective in looking at the tracking of children‟s progression, and a review of recording systems to support children to understand their achievements.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A child has recently moved into the home, and commented, „I came to visit first and picked my own bedroom. The staff were really nice when I moved in and made me feel welcome. I like living here.‟ Some of the children feel settled and have a sense of belonging.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The environment has a warm and nurturing feel. There are photos of the children and staff around the home, and the children say that they are fully involved with decisions made regarding the home. A child commented that he attends a house meeting every week where he sits with staff to plan menus and activities for the week. The children‟s wishes and feelings are listened to and acted on.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff understand the importance of children learning independence and life skills. They support children to keep their rooms tidy, change bedding and help staff cook and clear up. For one child, the manager wrote a letter asking if he would like an extra responsibility of carrying out car checks with the staff, as he has an interest in cars. The child was clearly proud of this. Staff understand the importance of making children feel valued.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/05/2017 Full Good 21/11/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/07/2016 Full Requires improvement 22/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

Interim inspection report children’s home: SC421531 4 This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children‟s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the „Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the positive relationship standard, the registered person must ensure that staff: understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable. (Regulation 11(2)(a)(xii)) 26/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(v)) 26/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children‟s home that helps children to aspire to their full potential and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(h)) 26/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children‟s home and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that each child‟s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14(2)(c)) 01/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development and receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33(4)(a)(b)) 01/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”) has spoken to the user about the measure; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 26/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39(3)) 26/02/2018 Interim inspection report children’s home: SC421531 5 This is with particular regard to following up fully any complaint made by a child.

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Recommendations

 When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children‟s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

Using the „Social care common inspection framework‟, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Children‟s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the „Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟.

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Children’s home details

Unique reference number: SC421531 Interim inspection report children’s home: SC421531 6 Provision sub-type: Children‟s home

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oracle Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 54 Wrest Park, Silsoe, Bedford MK45 4HS

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Inspector

Trish Palmer, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: SC421531 7 achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children‟s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children‟s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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